Celebratory Event at the Port of Southampton for UECC M/V Auto Eco

September 12, 2017

The Port of Southampton has hosted a major event to celebrate the world’s first duel-fuel car and truck carrier.One of the most technically advanced pure car/truck (PCTC) vessels ever built, MV AUTO ECO runs on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and she and her sister ship are becoming a regular sight in the port.World Ports Climate Initiative say LNG ships emit no sulphur or particulate matter and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90%.Guests were invited to tour the 181 metre vessel which boasts a capacity of 4,000 vehicles and their tour included a visit to the bridge and the engine room.ABP Southampton Director, Alastair Welch, said: “MV Auto Eco is a great example of the new generation of ships that are coming to Southampton.“Auto Eco is powered by LNG and joins other vessels in port using this technology today. Solar power and hybrid technologies are also being used in the port and we have also seen significant reductions in power requirements for ships as new technology reduces the load.“While a number of facilities in the port have shore power for smaller vessels, we continue to work on the possibility of shore power becoming a reality for larger vessels.”UECC CEO, Glenn Edvardsen, said: “We were very pleased with the event in Southampton and it was nice to see the interest shown by everyone in our ship.“ M/V AUTO ECO is the most technically advanced PCTC ever built, where the LNG installation is a pioneering design, and one of the largest employed on any commercial vessel, and the largest yet of its kind on a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).“A triumph of engineering, teamwork and international cooperation. AUTO ECO is helping UECC achieve its vision: To be recognised as the leading provider of short sea Ro/Ro transport in Europe. But more than that, the AUTO ECO serves as a bold statement of UECC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”